Selecting and calling device for automatic telephone apparatus



Nov. 10, 1936. c. J. HILGERS SELECTING AND CALLING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC Filed March 24, 1935 w! E H63. {g

TELEPHONE APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 LU L 77 r 121 110 r V i I D D (2 Q 85 w 2 55 70 7/ 62 E 6% 67 63 80 57 10 79 l I 11 b \ssw k m8 m9 Nov. 10, 1936.

SELECTING AND c. J. HILGERS 2,060,371 CALLING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE ABPARATUS Filed March 24, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 10, 1936 SELECTING AND CALLING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE APPARATUS Carl Josef Hilgers, Wuppertal-Barmen, Germany Application March 24, 1933, Serial No. 662,594 In Germany January 28, 1932 18 Claims. (Cl. 179-90) The known automatic telephone exchange apparatus have the drawback that if a mistake is made in dialling the particulars of the called private subscribers station, the mistake is discovered only after the connection with the wrongly called subscriber has been established and the wrong subscriber has answered the call. Therefore a quite unnecessary loss of time and trouble result from a wrong dialling, both to the calling and to the wrongly called subscriber, and in addition the calling subscriber has to bear quite unnecessary expense in view of the fact thatwrong connections made by an automatic telephone subscriber must be counted and paid for in exactly the same manner as correct connections.

It has already been proposed to provide in connection with automatic telephone exchanges, devices which show all the selected particulars of a call as a whole. By these known devices, the particulars of the call, for instance, the figures of the number of the selected station, are set by the manipulation of the dial, that is, by the dialling operation. Therefore the setting of the indicating device takes place simultaneously with the sending out of the current impulses so that when the mistake made during the dialling is shown by the indicating device, the connection with another subscriber has already been at least partly, but in some cases even completely, established. Consequently runners or other selecting means are quite unnecessarily brought into operation and the control lines or other connection channels used by the runners set in motion remain blocked to other subscribers, or if the mistake is made during the last dialling manipulation, an undesired call is effected. The known indicating device therefore does not fulfill its object. Moreover, it has the disadvantage that it necessitates making substantial modifications in the ordinary automatic telephone apparatus, so that in order to employ these indicating devices, entirely new automatic telephone apparatus have to be installed or existing apparatus have to be changed.

It has also been proposed to use an automatic calling device which can be released electro-magnetically from any suitable point and on being released automatically lifts the, receiver and manipulates several times the dial forwards and backwards, and thereby establishes a certain predetermined connection and finally gives an alarm signal. The drive of the dial is in this construction efiected by a power store which turns a disc provided with several toothed segments, the lengths of which corresponds to the'figures of the number to be called, said segments co-operating with a toothed gear fixed to the dial. Between the toothed segments gaps are provided which enable the dial to return to its initial position after each manipulation by a toothed segment. This known apparatus can be used only for establishing one particular connection for instance, a number determined by the lengths of the toothed segment, the connection being used, for instance, for raising an alarm.

The present invention provides a selecting and calling device for automatic telephone apparatus which enables the caller to select and set any desired number and/ or other particulars of called station without sending out current impulses or in any Way actuating any parts of the ordinary automatic apparatus. After the set call number and/ or other particulars of the called subscribers station have been examined and found correct, an operating device is released for instance by pressing a releasing button or other element, and this operating device automatically operates the selecting and calling device of the automatic apparatus in accordance with the previously set call number or particulars, whereby the required connection is automatically made. For this purpose a plurality of selectors serving for setting the particulars of a call is associated with an equal number of power stores serving for manipulating the dial of the automatic exchange apparatus in such a manner that on setting the particulars of a call, for instance the number of the called station, by means of the selectors, for instance figure carriers, the power stores are wound up by amounts corresponding to the set'particulars, say figures. The power stores are adapted to be coupled individually one after the other with a driving element operating the dial so that on being released they drive the dial. After each manipulation by an individual power store the dial is released and then returned in the usual manner to its initial position. With the novel apparatus forming the subject of the invention, wrong connections are impossible, as the set particulars, say call number, can be examined before releasing the device operating the dial. If a mistake hasbeen made in setting'the particulars of the called station, the manually operated setting device can be returned to its initial condition by the operation of a second press button or like element, and consequently wrongly set particulars can be cancelled and a new selection can be made before the automatic apparatus is actually used. The invention therefore obviates the making of wrong calls and saves the time and the noise connected therewith. Moreover, unnecessary sending out of current impulses and useless operation of runners or selecting members and wasteful blocking of control lines is dispensed with. As the automatic apparatus is entirely unaffected during the setting of the required particulars of the station to be called, calls from other subscribers may be received by the would-be caller until the operating device proper has been released by him. Moreover, the manipulation of the new device is extremely easy and simple, as the setting of the particulars, for instance number of the required station, is effected in a similar manner as by the manipulation of the known dial. For setting the carriers of the figures or other particulars and for winding up the power store, a chain may, for instance, be used which is provided with finger rests or like elements suitably arranged in relation to a scale of figures and/or a row of letters. In setting, for instance, a required call number, the finger is first placed above or to correspond with the first figure of the required number and the chain is moved by the corresponding finger rest or other element appertaining to the selected figure down to a fixed stop, whereupon the finger is removed from the chain. A second figure or number is then set in the same manner and so on, until all the particulars have been selected. The selected particulars, say figures, then appear in a window arranged near the selector mechanism and can be examined. After the accuracy of the required particulars of call has been checked, the device for automatically effecting the dialling and calling is released by pressing down the button.

An important advantage of the invention is the fact that no changes of any kind need be made in the existing automatic apparatus, inasmuch as the device forming the subject of the invention can be applied without any modification to any existing automatic telephone apparatus. For this purpose the device according to the invention may be housed in a separate casing which is mounted above the usual dial of the automatic telephone apparatus, and may be directly clamped to the casing of the apparatus. Preferably the casing of the additional device is hinged to the casing of the telephone apparatus so that in case of need the additional device may be turned upwards to uncover the dial of the automatic apparatus and enable same to be manually operated in the usual way.

The accompanying drawings show by way of example one construction embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a top view of the new device,

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the new device turned upwards the portion by which the new apparatus is fixed to the existing automatic apparatus being partly shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the new device with the top of the casing removed.

Fig. 4 is a section on line IV-IV of Fig. 3 seen from the right.

Fig. 5 is a section on line VV of Fig. 3 seen from the front.

Fig. 6 is a section on line VIVI of Fig. 3 seen from the right.

Fig. 7 is a section on line VII-VII of Fig. 3 seen from the rear.

Fig. 8 is a section on line VIIIVIII of Fig. 3 seen from the left.

Fig. 9 shows a portion of the means for operating the driving pinion and the reversing gear.

Figs. 10 and 11 show the cancelling press button and the parts associated therewith in two views arranged at right angles to each other.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view in which various gear parts actually lying in different planes are represented as lying in the same plane.

Fig. 13 shows a detail shown in the direction of arrow F of Fig. 12, and

Fig. 14 shows another detail shown in the direction of arrow G of Fig. 12.

The whole device is contained in a casing l (Figs. 1 and 2) which is normally located just above the dial 2 of an ordinary automatic telephone apparatus and is pivotally mounted in such a manner that it can be swung or turned upwards so as to uncover the dial and enable the disc to be manually operated in the usual manner in case of need. For this purpose. the casing I is, in the construction shown, hinged at 3 to a support 4 which can be fixed to the automatic telephone apparatus, namely to the socket portion 5 thereof carrying the dial 2, without the necessity of making any alterations in the existing apparatus. The support 4 of the casing l is in the construction shown made in the form of a ring (Fig. 2) the upper and wider portion of which is rectangular in shape to correspond with the rectangular shape of the casing l and encloses with sufficient play the dial 2. The lower and narrower portion of the support 4 is cylindrical and is slid upon the upper end of the socket 5 of the automatic apparatus carrying the dial. The lower portion of the support is slit and formed near the slits with eyes 6, so that it can be clamped to the socket 5-by means of screw bolts passed through the eyes. A strip of felt or other soft or resilient material may be inserted between the socket 5 and the clamped portion of the support 4. In cases in which the socket 5 of an existing automatic telephone apparatus is placed so low that the carrier 4 cannot be clamped thereto, the carrier is provided with a horizontal annular base portion 1 having a central aperture corresponding to the outer diameter of the usual neck portion 8 of the socket 5. The portion surrounding the central opening is formed with a slit collar 9 provided with means for clamping same to the neck 8 of the socket. The clamping means may again, as in the previously described construction comprise two pairs of eyes and clamping bolts passed therethrough. construction of the support 4, the lower tubular portion is either shortened or entirely omitted.

As in the second construction of the carrier 4, the base portion 1 covers the figures or other particulars borne by the top of the socket 5 which are of course required for the dialling operation, these figures and/or other particulars must be provided upon the top surface of the base portion 1 in the required position so as to correspond with the holes of the dial.

Upon the upper portion of the support 4 is provided a hinge 3 for the pivotal mounting of the casing I. At the opposite side there may be provided any suitable locking device, for instance a bolt or a catch. The locking device is preferably adapted to be releasable by means of a knob or other manually operated member so that in case of a breakdown of the device mounted in the casing I, the whole device together with the casing can be easily swung into the inoperative position in which the dial 2 is uncovered and can be manually operated in the usual way. In some cases it might be advisable. to provide the device forming the subject of this invention with an ordinary lock and key, or the previously men- In the second her appear.

slot I2.

'tioned bolt or catch may be secured by means of a seal so that the casing I together with the device contained therein can be swung into the operative position only by an authorized person. In that case it is advisable to lock or secure also the means for fixing the carrier 4 to the apparatus. For this purpose, the casing Imay, for instance, be provided with a downwardly extending collar or flange or several lugs which in the operative position of the casing enclose the clamping means of the support 4 and therefore render them inaccessible. In the construction in which the support 4 is fixed to the neck portion 8 of the socket 5 there is no need to provide any seal for the clamping means, as in this construction, the clamping means are covered by the casing I.

With the exception of some apertures provided in the top of the casing (Fig. 1), the casing is entirely closed in order to prevent unauthorized manipulation or access to the device contained therein. The top of the casing is provided with an elongated rectangular window ID (Fig. 1) under which the figures of the selected call num- On the right of the window III there is provided an elongated recess I I the major axis of which is arranged vertically and the base portion of which is formed with a longitudinal Under this slot is mounted the upper or front portion of a driving chain I6 which passes over three chain wheels I3, I4, I5 and carries ten finger rests or carrier arms I! which project upwardly through the slot I2 and are located within the recess I I. Under these finger rests or carrier arms I! there is provided upon the bottom of the recess II a scale I80 comprising figures 1 to 9 andzero, these figures being so arranged that in the idle position of the driving chain I6 there appears aboveeach finger rest I! its corresponding figure. The lower and if needed also the upper small side ofthe recess II are removed to enable the finger rests H to pass during the movement of the driving chain I6 from recess in the top of the casing into the casing itself. The driving chain I6 with its finger rests and the corresponding figure marks serves for setting the. required call number of the station to be called. It is, in this construction assumed that the stations are identified by numbers only. As the area of the casing I must be rather small, that is not substantially larger than the socket 5 of a normal automatic telephone apparatus, and the dial 2, the portion of the driving chain I6 carrying the finger rests II and the scale. I80 must be rather short. To enable the finger rests IT to be placed at such a distance apart as would render manipulation of the chain with a finger easy and at the same time in order to make the figures of the scale I80 as large as possible, the finger rests II and the scale I80 are arranged on both sides of the slot I2 and the chain IE, and the odd numbers and corresponding finger rests are arranged on one side, that is on the left of the slot, whilst the even numbers and the number are arranged on the right side of the slot, the figures and finger rests of the two rows being staggered relatively to each other as shown; The setting of a. call number is effected by placing a finger upon the required figure of the scale I80 and then moving the finger together with the finger rest downwards to a stop formed at the lower end of the recess I I. The finger is then removed from the finger rest, and the driving chain I is returned automatically by a spring (not shown) to its initial position, so that the operation of setting the next figure may be repeated in the same manner.

Above the window Iii there are provided in the top of the casing two apertures in which work press buttons I8, I9 of corresponding spindles or rods arranged within the casing. One of these press buttons, namely the button I8 serves for releasing, after the required call number has been set and found correct, the calling device proper arranged within the casing. The other button I9 serves for cancelling an incorrect setting by putting into operation a device which restores the parts which have been moved during the setting operation, to their initial positions.

The two press buttons I8 and I9 are provided with suitable indications, for instance Call and Cancel. If preferred these indications may be arranged in the proximity of the buttons upon the top of the casing I.

It is assumed in the constructional example illustrated that any subscribers station is identified by a five-figured number. In accordance with this assumption there are provided under the window II) the front portions of five endless bands El, 22, 23, 24, 25 which are guided in the casing I partly by rollers 20 and partly by a fixed guide plate 26 (Fig. 4). The bands carry upon their front portion each the figures 1 to 9 and zero. The bands 2 I425 are associated each With a corresponding spring motor 3I, 32, 33, 34, 35 which serve for driving the dial 2. The five spring motors 3I35 which are all mounted upon a fixed shaft 28 within the casing I, each has a cylindrical outer casing or drum adapted to rotate about the shaft 28. In each casing there is suitable spring preferably made of several steel strips and constructed after the manner of a Watch spring, a helical spring or a spiral spring, which is fixed at one end to the motor casing and is fixed at the other end to the stationary shaft 28. Around each spring casing is passed a flexible tension member for instance a metal band 29 forming a loop. The ends of this tension member are crossed and fixed to the corresponding figure band 2|, 22, 23, 24 or 25 whereby these bands are positively coupled in both directions with their corresponding spring casings so that upon rotation of a spring casing a displacement of the corresponding band of figures will take place by an amount exactly corresponding to the amount of rotation of the casing. The rotation of each spring casing in the sense of de-tensiom'ng or slackening the spring, is limited by stops, the arrangement of which will be hereinafter more fully described, in such manner that in the idle position of the spring motors and the figure bands coupled thereto, there appears under the Window I I) a blank field corresponding to the initial position of the band and adjacent to the figure 1.

The casing of each of the spring motors 3I-35 is provided upon its periphery adjacent tothe portion bearing the before-mentioned tension member with a toothed rim 4|, 42, 43, 44 or 45, all adapted to engage a pinion 3B which serves for winding up the motors 3 I-35 by rotating their spring casings. The winding up of the motors occurs simultaneously with the setting of the figures of the call number within the window I0, and varies as regards its degree with the magnitude of the set figure. The winding up of each motor continues until the figure corresponding to the selected finger rest of the scale I80 appears in the window I53. The common driving pinion 30 is driven by means of the above described driving chain I6. One pinion serves for all the five spring motors 3I-35 and is adapted to be brought into engagement with the toothed rims 4I-45 of the motors. For this purpose the pinion 30 is slidable upon a prismatic shaft I49 which is operatively connected by gears I42, I43 with a shaft I44, the latter carrying the rear wheel I4 of the driving chain I9. Between the chain wheel I4 and the shaft I44 is interposed a yielding one-way coupling 36 (Fig. 12) so that the shaft I44 and the pinion 35 are rotated only during the downward movement of the front portion of the chain I6 carrying the finger rests I'I, whilst during the upward movement of the chain, that is during the return of the finger rests I1 into the initial position, the shaft ME! remains stationary. The slidable pinion 39 is held in a control fork 31 which is fixed to a nut 38. The nut is mounted upon a rotatable but axially immovable screw spindle 39 parallel to the shaft I40, the pinion 35 being therefore operated by the rotation of the spindle. The spindle 39 is operatively connected by gears 46-5i with a shaft 49 on which is mounted a yielding one-way coupling 52, 53 (Figs. 6 and 12). The coupling member 53 rotatably mounted upon the shaft carries a radially extending carrier arm I4! and is controlled by a spring and a stop limiting its rotation in such a manner that in the idle position of the coupling the carrier arm I4I assumes the position shown in Fig. 6. With the arm I4I is associated a pawl 54 carried by the driving chain I6, said pawl being in the idle position of the chain wheel I4 located in front of or anterior to the arm I M. During the manual drive of the driving chain I6, the pawl passes the carrier arm idly, that is, Without acting thereon. At the end of the return movement of the driving chain, the pawl carries the arm MI and turns same through an angle of about 15. This rotation of the arm MI is transmitted by the one-way coupling 52, 53 to the shaft 40 and by the latter through the transmission 46-52 to the spindle 39. The arm I4I after having been passed by the pawl 54 returns under the action of a spring into its initial position, the shaft 45 and the spindle 39 remaining during this movement stationary owing to the provision of the one-way coupling. The ratio of transmission of the gears 45-52 is so chosen with regard to the pitch of the spindle that at each turning of the spindle 39 effected by the transmission, the nut 38 and the pinion 39 connected thereto by the fork 31, are moved by an amount corresponding to the distance between two adjacent toothed rims 4I-45 of the spring motor 3I-35 so that the pinion is brought into engagement with the next following spring motor.

In the idle condition of the device, the pinion 30 is in the position shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 12 and is therefore operatively connected with the first spring motor 3|. If now the driving chain I6 is moved by means of a finger inserted to select the first figure of the desired call number, the first spring motor 3I will be wound up by means of the transmission I42, I43 and the pinion 33 and at the same time the first figure of the required number will be set to appear under the window I0. Upon the return of the driving chain I6 into its initial position, the spindle 39 will be rotated by means of the coupling 52, 53 and the transmission 45-52, whereby the pinion 39 will be set to co-operate with the second spring motor. If now the chain I6 be moved a second time by means of a finger inserted to select the second figure of the required number, the second motor 32 will be tensioned and in the window II] the second figure of the number will appear. Upon a further return of the driving chain I6, the spindle 39 will again be rotated and the pinion 30 will be further moved, so that it engages the toothed rim of the third motor 33. The above described operations are now repeated until all the figures of the required call number are placed in the window I9 and, in the case of a five-figured call number, all the five spring motors have been tensioned by amounts corresponding to the selected figures. Upon the return of the driving chain which occurs after the selection and setting of the last number of the call number, the pinion 30 is moved into a position to the right of the last spring motor 35 which is the extreme right position of the pinion. From this extreme right hand position the pinion is subsequently moved in a manner and by means hereinafter described, upon the starting of the drive of the dial 2 of the automatic apparatus. To enable this operation to be carried out, the transmission 46-5I is disengageable, for which purpose the two gears 41 and 48 of the transmission are mounted in a rocking lever 65 mounted upon a control shaft 66.

The spring motors 3I-35 must, of course, be locked every time they have been wound up by the setting of the figures, until they are required to run under their own spring power to drive the dial. For this purpose the casings of the motors are provided upon their right hand end faces with recesses or notches, and there is provided adjacent to each motor a spring controlled locking pawl 55 which automatically engages the notches or teeth of the corresponding spring motor casing. In the construction shown the looking pawls are arranged behind the spring motor casings, and are extended downwards in the front portion of the casing I, carrying at their ends arms 56 the operation of which will be hereinafter described.

The spring motors 3I-35 serve as previously stated, for driving the dial 2 of the automatic apparatus in accordance with the call number set in the window I9, whereby the required number is called in known manner. For this purpose there is provided upon the other side of the spring motors, that is, opposite the pinion 39, another pinion which is slidable upon a prismatic shaft 58 and is adapted to be set to co-operate with the toothed rims 4I-45 of the five spring motors one after the other.

The shaft 58 of the pinion 51 is operatively connected by a transmission 61, 68 with the shaft 69 carrying a toothed gear 79. The gear I9 engages the toothed rim II of a coupling disc I2 which is arranged coaxially with the dial 2 of the automatic apparatus, near the bottom of the casing I so that when the device I is in its working position, the disc I2 lies close above the dial. The coupling disc I2 carries upon its underside a projection or finger I3 which engages the last hole of the dial 2. The coupling disc I2 is therefore adapted to carry the dial and turn same by any required amount. Between the gear I0 which engages the coupling disc I2 and the shaft 69 carrying the gear I0 there is interposed a disengageable coupling I4 which after each turning operation of the dial 2 is automatically disengaged, to enable the dial and the coupling disc I2 connected therewith to return to their initial positions. The coupling I4 is normally held in the engaged position by a spring 15. The disengaging of the coupling takes place by means of a lever mechanism I6, 1! and a prismatic shaft 18 arranged parallel to the shaft 28 of the spring motors 3|35 (Figs. 4 and 12). The shaft 18 carries a disengaging arm 19 which moves together with the pinion 51, and is normally, when the coupling is in the engaged position, held by the spring of the coupling in its position of rest. For co-operation with the disengaging arm 19, each spring motor 3l-35 is provided with a rod 8| guides at right angles to the shaft 18, each of the rods being provided with two recesses 82, 83 adapted to be engaged by finger 84 fixed upon the casing of the corresponding spring motor (Fig. 4). When the spring motors are in their idle posi tions, the rods 8| are in their forward end positions, in which the finger 84 engages the upper recess 82. Upon a motor being wound up, the finger 84 of this motor moves the corresponding rod 8| backwards and then moves out of the recess 82. If the motor is wound up by more than one complete revolution, the finger 84 enters at the end of the first complete revolution the second recess 83 and moves the rod 8| a further distance.

Upon the pinion 51 being set to co-operate with a spring motor, the disengaging lever 19 slidable on prismatic shaft 18 is simultaneously brought into register with the rod 8| appertaining to this motor. The rod 8| has been moved from its idle position by the corresponding spring motor, whilst the motor was being wound up, and consequently the disengaging lever 19 will now be located in front of the front end of the rod. If now the spring motor is cause to drive the dial, this operation being hereinafter referred to as the driving operation of the spring motor, the rod 8| will be moved back into its initial position, this movement taking place either in one or in two steps, depending on the amount to which the motor has been previously wound up. On returning to its initial position the rod 8| strikes the disengaging lever 19 and thereby turns the shaft 18 in the sense of disengaging the coupling 14. thereby disengaged from the shaft 69 so that the dial 2 after being driven by the motor, can return together with the coupling disc 12 into theinitial position. The pinion 51 is now set toco-operate with the next spring motor and at the same time the disengaging lever 19 moves away from the rod 8| by which it was previously actuatedand is brought into register with the rod 8| corresponding to the next motor. The disengaging lever 79 is at the same time released from its disengaging position, and the coupling 14 is again thrown in by its spring 15 for the next drive of the dial 2, the disengaging lever assuming its initial angular position. The return movement of the dial 2 and the coupling disc 12 connected therewith is effected by a spring force. For this purpose there is provided in addition to the already existing return spring within the socket 5 of the ordinary automatic apparatus, an additional spring 80 which may, for instance, be fixed to the gear 18. This additional spring is, of course, tensioned during the drive of the dial 2 and is unwound during the return movement of the dial.

The push rods 8| and the fingers 84 upon the casing of the spring motors 3|-35 serve at the same time as a means for limiting the drive of the spring motors, inasmuch as a motor casing will be stopped as soon as the finger 84 has entered the recess 82 of the rod 8| and has moved the latter to its end position.

. The pinion 51 which transmits the drive from the spring motor 3l-35 to the coupling disc 12,

The gear 10 is assumes in the idle position of the device the extreme position shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 12 in which, seen from above, it is located at the left of the first spring motor 3| and is therefore disengaged from all the motors. The displacement of the pinion 51 is effected by means of an operating fork which during its movement also carries the disengaging lever 19. The fork 85 is operated by means of a nut 88 slidably mounted upon a screw threaded spindle ||l| parallel to the prismatic shaft 58. The spindle |0| is moved partly by hand, namely for setting the pinion into engagement with the first spring motor 3|, and is then further rotated automatically for setting the pinion step by step into engagement with the remaining spring motors 32-35. The manual rotation of the spindle is effected by means of the call push button I8. This push button serves also for returning the pinion 30 which has been used for winding up the spring motors 3l-35, and which after the setting of the required station number, is set with regard to the last spring motor. This pinion 38 must in order not to hinder the driving rotation of the motors, be moved into a position at the left of the first spring motor 3|, that is, into a position which corresponds with the position of the pinion 51 shown in Figs. 3 and 12. The following means is provided for the required manual operation of the screw threaded spindles 39 and NH.

The spindles 39 and |0| carry at their left ends the pinions 81 and 88 (Figs. 8 and 12) which may be operatively connected together by means of two intermediate gears 89 and 90, in such a manner that when connected they will rotate in opposite directions. One of the intermediate gears, namely 89, is rotatably mounted upon a stationary shaft 9| and is in permanent engagement with the pinion 81 on the shaft 39. The gear 9|! is mounted in the left arm of a doublearmed lever 92 loosely mounted upon shaft 9|, and meshes with the gear 89. The lever 92 is normally held by a spring 96 in the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 8, in which position the two pinions 81, 88 are separately, that is, independently rotatable. The lever 92 can be moved by the pressure of a projection 91 provided at the lower end of the rod 95 of the push button i8 into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8, in which position the intermediate gear meshes with the pinion 88 of the spindle |0l so that the two spindles 39 and HH are coupled to rotate simultaneously in opposite directions. This displacement of the lever 92 takes place during the last portion of the downward stroke of the push button l8. At the side and above the intermediate gear 89 is mounted a gear 94 which is movable up and down and simultaneously rotatable within a slot guide I45, and is normally held in its upper end position by a spring 93. In this position the gear 94 does not engage the intermediate gear 89. The gear 94 co-operates with a toothed rack provided upon the rod 95 of the push button l8 in such a manner that on depression of the button l8 the gear 94 is first pressed downwards by the rod 95 until it comes into engagement with the gear 89, whereupon the gear 94 is rotated by the toothed rack of the rod 95. This rotation is then transmitted according to the position of the lever 92 either by the gear 89 to the spindle 39 alone, or to both the spindles NH and 39. The projection 91 provided upon the rod 95 of the call push button I8 has the further function of operating at the beginning of the downward stroke of the push button IS a lever 99 and turn same to one side. The lever 99 is mounted upon the control shaft 66 of the disengaging lever of the gears 41, 48 of the transmission 46-5I driving the feed spindle 39 of the pinion 30. The lever is normally held in the position in which the transmission is thrown in. Upon the lever being swung to the side by the projection 91, the transmission 46-5! is thrown out of action. When, after the setting of the number of the required station and the winding up of the spring motors 3I-35 effected by the setting, the operator depresses the call button IS, the transmission 46-5I appertaining to the spindle 39 is first disengaged, and the gear 94 is engaged, whereupon the toothed rack of the rod 95 rotates the gear 94 in the manner previously described. The spindle 39 of the nut 38 operating the pinion 30 is now rotated by means of gears 89, 81 in a direction opposite to that in which it was rotated during the winding up of the spring motors 3I-35 and the result is that the pinion 30 is moved into its extreme left position in which it is located at the left of the first power store or spring motor 3i. Before the pinion 30 reaches its extreme position, namely, at the moment at which it stands at the spring motor 3|, the rocking lever 92 is turned by the projection 91 of the rod 95 in the direction of the arrow 1) (Fig. 8) so that gear 90 is also brought into engagement with pinion 88 of the spindle IOI. During the further displacement of the pinion 30, the other pinion 5'! will also be simultaneously displaced, and will be moved from the extreme position shown in Fig. 12 so far to the right that it comes into engagement with the toothed rim 4| of the first spring motor 3|. The displacement of the pinions 30 and 57 is completed upon the press button I8 reaching its lowest position. The press button can now be released, whereupon the rocking lever 92 is returned by the spring 96 to its initial position, whereby gear 90 is put out of engagement with pinion 80 and the two spindles 39 and I0! become again independent. At the same time the gear 94 moves upwards and comes out of engagement with the gear 89.

The further displacement of the pinion 51 is as above mentioned effected automatically. For this purpose the spindle I0! is connected at its right end by a transmission 59-64 with a spring motor I00 (Fig. 12), said motor being in a similar manner as the spring motors 3I-35 constituted by a casing rotatably mounted about a fixed shaft and a spring mounted within the casing and fixed at one end to the casing and at the other end to the stationary shaft. The spring may again be a torsional or watch spring consisting preferably of two steel bands. Between the last gear 64 of the transmission of the spring motor I00 is inserted a one-way coupling IOI which is so arranged that the spring motor carries the transmission only when moving under its own power, that is by the unwinding of the spring, whilst when the motor is being wound up, the transmission remains stationary. The spring motor I00 is wound up at the same time as the spring motors 3I-35' during the setting of the required station number. For this purpose the casing of the motor is connected by a second one-Way coupling I02 with the chain wheel I 5 of the chain I5 carrying the finger rests IT in such a manner that the motor casing is moved in the sense of winding up the motor I00 during the manual operation of the driving chain I6. In order to lock the spring motor I60 in its wound up condition, there is provided upon one of the gears of the transmission 59-64, for instance, upon the gear 60, (see Fig. 14) a pin I03. With this pin I03 co-operates one of a plurality of pins I04 which are radially arranged upon one half I05 of a one-way coupling I05, I06 rotatable about a fixed shaft I07, in such a manner that in the idle position of the coupling half I05 one of the pins I04 lies always in front of the striker pin I03 of the gear 60 and holds the gear locked against the turning moment exerted by the spring motor I00 (Figs. 12 and 14). The second half I06 of the one way coupling carries a carrier arm I08 turned downwards by a spring, said arm co-operating with the coupling disc I2 of the dial 2. In the coupling disc I2 is provided an opening I09 into which the arm I08 enters so that it can subsequently be carried by the coupling disc. In the idle position of the coupling disc I2 the arm I08 engages the opening I09 and assumes the position shown in Fig. 14. If now the coupling disc I2 is rotated in the direction of driving the dial 2, the disc carries the arm I08 and the coupling half I06 idly until the arm moves out of the opening I09, whereupon the arm slides upon the surface of the disc 72 (dotted position in Fig. 14).

If now the dial 2 and the coupling disc I2 return to their initial positions, the arm I08 again enters at the end of the return of the disc 72, the opening I09 and is turned back into its initial position. During this movement of the arm I08, the coupling half I06 carries the other coupling half I05 provided with the pins I04 and the result is that the latter half is shifted by the angular distance of two adjacent pins I04. During this movement the gear 60 is first released for rotation whereupon the next pin of the coupling half I05 comes in front of the pin I03 of the gear 60, so that the latter gear is again looked after a full revolution. The spindle I M is therefore rotated by an amount corresponding to a complete revolution of the gear 60, and owing to a proper selection of the ratio of transmission from the gear 60 to the spindle IOI, the nut 86 together with the pinion 51 will be shifted by an amount corresponding to the distance between the toothed rims 4|, 42 and so on of the spring motors 3I-35, whereby the pinion 5'! will be set for co-operation with the next following spring motor 32 and so on. After this motor has performed its driving rotation, and has again driven the dial 2, the coupling member I 05 will at the end of the return of the dial 2, be again rotated by the distance between two pins, so that the above described operation will be repeated. It will thus be seen that the pinion 51 after having been first set to co-operate with the first motor 3I, will thereafter be automatically set successively into co-operation with the following spring motors 32-35.

The following means are provided for releasing the spring motors 3I-35 for their driving operation each time when the pinion 5'! is brought into engagement with the toothed rim of a motor. For this purpose the fork 85 connecting the pinion 51 with the nut 86 is provided with an arm IIO which acts upon the release arms 56 of the locking pawl 55 of the spring motors 3I-35 in such a manner that when the pinion is brought into engagement with a mo tor, the locking pawl of this motor is brought out of action. Upon the pinion 51 being then moved further, the arm II 0 clears the arm 56 of the locking pawl, whereupon the locking pawl r turns under spring action into its normal position. When after all the spring motors have performed their driving operations, the pinion 51 returns into its initial position, the arm II9 passes idly the arms 56 of the locking pawls. For this purpose the arm H0 is so mounted that on being displaced to the left it yields and passes the arm 56.

The return into the initial position of the pinion 51 which transmits the drive of the dial 2, is also effected by the spring motor I00. For this purpose the transmission 59-64 between motor I00 and spindle ml is constructed as a reversing gear, the gears 62, 63 and 63a of the transmission being for this purpose mounted in a double-armed rocking lever III. This rocking lever is normally in the position shown in Fig. 9 in which the gear 63 meshes with gear 64, whilst gear 63a is not in engagement with gear 64. Upon the rocking lever III being turned in the direction of arrow 0 (Fig. 9), gear 63 is moved out of engagement with gear 64, and at the same time gear 63a is brought into engagement with gear 64, whereby the direction of rotation of the following gears and consequently also that of the spindle I6I is reversed. The rocking lever III is normally held by a spring 2 in the position shown in Fig. 9. Its movement in the direction of arrow 0 is effected, for instance, by a wedge member H3 (Fig. 12) which is connected by a rod II with a rod H5 guided to move parallel with spindle IOI. With the rod II5 co-operates one arm H6 of a double armed lever II6, II! mounted upon the nut 86 of the pinion 51, the other arm II'I being adapted to co-operate with two stationary stops I I8, H9. When pinion 5'! after the last spring motor 35 has performed its driving operation, is moved to the right by the spindle ml, the arm II! of the lever H6, H1 strikes the stop H8 situated at the right end of the travel of the pinion 51, and is turned by the stop anticlockwise. At the same time the arm H6 enters a recess I20 of the rod I I5 and moves the rod to the right, whereby the wedge member I I3 is caused to move the rocking lever III in the direction of arrow 0 (Fig. 9) which reverses the transmission 59-69. The spring motor I00 now drives the spindle IIlI in the opposite direction so that the pinion 51 is moved to the left. In order that the locking device of the gear 60 should not prevent during the return of the pinion the required opposite rotation of the gear, the striker pin I03 is pivotally mounted in such a manner that it forms a rigid stop only during the rotation of the gear 60 in the sense of displacing the pinion 51 to the right, whilst during the opposite rotation, that is, during the return of the pinion, it will turn and pass the striker pins I04 of the coupling I05. During the return movement of the pinion 51 to the left, the arm II6 of the lever H6, II I leaves the recess I20 and then slides upon the rod II5. As soon as the pinion 5'! reaches its extreme left position, the arm Ill strikes the left stationary stop H9 and is turned. thereby clockwise. The arm I I6 in co-operation with a nose I20 provided upon the rod II5, then moves the rod II5 to the left whereby the wedge piece I I3 is caused to release the rocking lever III. The rocking lever then returns to its idle position under the action of a spring, whereby the transmission 59-64 is again set for driving the spindle IOI in the sense of moving the pinion 51 to the right.

Upon the return of the pinion 51 into its initial or idle position, the pinion 30 which serves for winding up the spring motors 3I-35 must be got ready for action, that is, it must be set to cooperate with the first spring motor 3|. This is efiected by the transmission gears 09, 90 mounted in rocking lever 92 (Fig. 8), the rocking lever being brought during the last portion of the return movement of the pinion 5'! into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8, in which position the gears 89, 90 operatively connect the pinion 88 mounted upon spindle IOI with pinion 31 mounted upon spindle 39. For this purpose the arm of the rocking lever 92 adjacent to the spindle |0| is provided with a lateral projection I2I having upon its under side a bevelled and also a horizontal surface, whilst the control fork 85 of the pinion 57 is provided with an arm I22 adapted to co-operate with said projection (Figs. 12 and 13) Some time before the control fork 85 and pinion 5! reach their extreme left positions, the bent end I22a of the arm I22 strikes the projection I2I of the lever and in acting upon its bevelled surface turns the lever 92 into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8, whereby the spindle I0| is coupled with spindle 39 through trans mission 88, 90, 89, 81. The spindle 39 is now also driven, the drive, being in the required direction to cause nut 38 together with pinion 30 to move to the right. As soon .as nut 86 and pinion 81 have reached their extreme left positions, pinion 30 has also been moved the required distance, that is, it has been set to co-operate with the first spring motor 3|. The end I22a of the arm I22 now comes under the bent out portion I2|a of the arm I2I of the locking lever 92 and thereby releases the lever. The lever 92 is now swung back by the spring 96 into the position shown by full lines, and the two spindles IOI and 39 are disconnected. The device is then ready for the setting of a. fresh station number.

In the foregoing description of the means for returning the pinion 5'! into its initial position, and the simultaneous setting of the pinion 30 for co-operation with the first spring motor, it has been assumed that the number required for calling a station comprises five figures and that therefore the pinion 5'I always moves into its extreme right position. In practice it may be necessary to provide for the use of station numbers having fewer than five figures, in which case the pinion 51 will after the spring motors have performed their driving operations, not reach its extreme right position. In order to obtain even in these cases the automatic return of the pinion 51 into its initial position and in order to set at the same time the pinion 30 to co-operate with the first spring motor 3|, the ends of the push rods 8| appertaining to the spring motors 3I-35 which co-operate with the releasing lever 19 of the coupling 14, are utilized also as stops for controlling the control lever H6, II! of the rod I I5. For this purpose the push rods are arranged in one plane with the stop H8, I I9 in such manner that the ends of the push rods 8| lie when the rods are in the idle positions in the path of the arm II! of the lever H6, H1 travelling with the pinion 5'! (Fig. 4). Moreover, there are provided in the control rod II5 five recesses I20 arranged at even distances apart, which serve for engaging the lever arm I I6. If, for instance, a two-figured number has been set by the operator and consequently only the two spring motors 3| and 32 have been wound up, only the push rods 8| of these motors 3| and 32 were lifted and consequently rods 8| of the remaining spring motors are in their initial positions of rest. When the lever arm M1, on pinion 51 being set for cooperation with the first and second spring motors, passes the push rod 8| of these motors, then upon completion of the driving rotation of the second spring motor 32, the arm III strikes upon the last displacement of nut 86 of pinion 51, the end of the push rod 8I of the third spring motor 33, whereby the lever I I6, II! is turned anticlockwise. Arm H6 then engages the adjacent recess I20 of the control rod I I5 and shifts the rod to the right, whereby the transmission gear 59-64 of the motor I00 is reversed and the return of the pinion 51 into its initial position is started. If a one-figure or a three-figure or a four-figure number was set by the operator, then the lever I I6, I I1 is operated by the push rod 8I of the second motor 32, or the push rod 8I of the fourth spring motor 34 or of the fifth motor 35 as the case may be. It will thus be seen that the return of the pinion 51 into its initial position will in any case be started after the last of the previously wound up spring motors has performed its driving operation. Simultaneously with the return of the pinion 51 into its initial position, the pinion 30 is brought into engagement with the first motor 3|.

To insure that the lever H6, II! should not be acted upon by the push rods 8I during the return of the pinion 51 into its initial position, the free end of the lever arm I H which co-operates with these push rods is constructed as a pivoted pawl member in such a manner that the lever I I1, I I6 can be turned by the push rods 3| only during the movement of the pinion 51 from the left to the right, whilst during the opposite movement of the pinion 51 from the right to the left, the free end of the lever arm II'I will yield on coming into contact with the ends of the push rods. The stationary stop I I9 provided at the left end of the travel of the pinion 51 is so placed in relation to the ends of the push rods BI and the right hand stationary stop II8, that it does not co-operate with the pivoted yielding end of the lever H6, H1, but only with the rigid part of the lever arm II'I. This construction of the lever II6, I I1 is not particularly shown in the drawings.

To enable the spring motor I06 to effect the movement of the pinion 5'! to the right and also return of the pinion into its initial position, means must be provided for fully winding up the motor I00 on setting the number of a called station, independently of the fact whether a high or loW station number is set. For this purpose, the ratio of transmission of the transmission 59-64 is so chosen that a few turns of the motor I00 are sufiicient for providing the required number of revolutions of the spindle driven by the motor. The motor will in that case have to perform only a few revolutions on being wound up, and it will therefore be fully wound up after only a part of the called station number has been actually set by the operator. During the remaining setting operation the motor will not be aifected. For this purpose, a yielding clutch, for instance a frictional clutch, may be interposed between the chain wheel and the motor I00, said clutch allowing slipping between its two halves as soon as the motor has been fully wound up. Instead of making the ratio of transmission between motor I00 and the spindle IOI very high for the purpose stated, a transmission device may be interposed between the chain wheel I5 and the motor I00.

If during the setting of the called stations number a mistake has been made by the operator,

that is to say, if a wrong figure has been set, a device may be brought into action by pressing the previously mentioned cancelling button I9, by which the spring motors 3I-35 are caused to perform their rotations without driving the dial 2 and by which the set figures are simultaneously cancelled. This device is constructed as follows:-

The rod I23 of the cancelling button I9 is provided with a toothed rack which co-operates with a gear I 24 adapted to engage and drive a gear I50, the latter meshing with a pinion I2'I fixedly mounted upon the left end of the threaded spindle 38 (Figs. 10, 11 and 12). The gear I24 is in a similar manner as the previously described gear 9d of the call button I8, slidably and rotatably mounted in a slot guide and is normally held by a spring I34 in an upper end position in which it does not engage the gear I50. Upon depression of the button I9, the gear I24 is first moved downwards by the toothed rack I23 and is then turned by the toothed rack. The arrangement of the toothed rack I23 and the gears I24, I 59, I2! is such that on depression of the toothed rack I23, the spindle 39 is rotated so as to move the pinion 30 to the left. Upon the rod I23 of the cancelling button I9 there is also provided a projection I28 which co-operates with a lever I29 mounted upon shaft 66 which latter serves for disengaging the transmission 465I. The rod I23 carries also a projection I62 which by means of a pivoted lever I30 acts upon a projection I 3| of a release rod I32 which latter is guided parallel to a prismatic shaft I40 (Figs. 10, 11 and 12). The rod I32 carries a number of projections I33 co-operating with the locking levers 55 of the spring motors 3I-35, said projections being so arranged that when the release rod I32 is moved to the right, all the locking levers 55 are simultaneously disengaged from the motors. A spring, not shown in the drawings, tends to move the rod I32 back into its extreme left position. Upon the cancelling button I9 being depressed, the transmission 46-5I of the spindle 39 is first disengaged by means of projection I28, lever I29 and shaft 66 so that the spindle 39 can rotate freely. The release rod I32 is moved to the right by the projection I62 and lever I30 and the wound up spring motors 3I-35 are released so that they can unwind idly. All the motors with the exception of the one upon which the pinion 30 has been set, then unwind. During further depression of the button I9, spindle 39 is driven by means of toothed rack I23 and gears I24, I50 and I21, and this causes the nut 38 together with the pinion 30 to move to the left until the pinion has returned to its initial position (Fig. 12). As soon as the pinion 30 becomes disengaged from the toothed rim of the motor upon which it was last set, this motor too unwinds its spring, so that all the spring motors 3I-35 and the pinion 30 are again in the required initial position for setting a fresh station number. The press button I9 is then released and returns under the action of its spring to its extreme upper position. At the same time, the projection I62 releases the release rod I32 and allows same to return to its initial position. The projection I22 releases the lever I29 so that the transmission 46-5I is again engaged. The whole device is now ready for setting a fresh number.

The cancelling button l9 may be used by the operator not only after the complete setting of a station number, but even when the station number has been only partly set and an error has been made in the setting. If the cancelling operation is started after only a part of the spring motor 3I-35 has been wound up, the press button I9 need not be depressed completely for returning the pinion to its initial position, but it is sufficient to depress the button through a smaller distance corresponding to the number of the actually wound up spring motors. In order to prevent the pinion 30 from being moved by an excessive depression of the press button I9, beyond the required position, means are provided for automatically limiting the return movement of the pinion 30. This means may, for instance, consist of a projection I 41 adapted to be lifted and depressed and mounted upon one arm of a double armed lever I 48 (Figs. 10, 11 and 12). This projection I4! is normally inoperative and is upon depression of the cancelling button I9 moved into its operative position by a projection I39 of the rod I23 of the press button I9, the result being that the operating fork 31 of the pinion 30 strikes the projection I41 as soon as the pinion during its return movement has reached the position in front of the spring motor 3I, whereby further movement of the pinion is stopped. Consequently, the press button I9 cannot be further depressed. If the press button I9 is now released and returns to its top position, the projection I4! is removed by a spring acting thereon from its operative position.

The operation of the device is as follows:

In order to call a subscribers station, the particulars of the subscribers station, for instance a five-figured number, is first set by repeatedly manipulating the chain I6, which causes the figures of the called number to appear one after the other in the window I0 and also causes winding up by corresponding amounts of the spring motors 3I-35. The spring motor I00 is also wound up at the same time. During this setting operation, it is not necessary that the receiver of the automatic apparatus be lifted from the hook. Only after the setting has been completed, must the receiver be lifted in order to release the normally locked dial 2. The press button I8 is then depressed whereby as previously described, the pinion 30 is moved into a position at the left of the first spring motor 3| and at the same time pinion 51 is brought into engagement with spring motor 3|. Spring motor 3I now drives the dial 2 by an amount corresponding to the first figure of the number to be called. After return of the dial, pinion 51 is set by spindle I0! and motor I00 to co-operate with the second spring motor and so on until all the spring motors previously set have been unwound to drive the dial and the dial 2 has been five times driven by amounts corresponding to the figures to be called, performing return runs between operative runs. The connection with the required subscriber is then completed. After the last spring motor has performed its driving operation, the transmission of the motor I09 is reversed and the pinion 5'! is returned to its initial position and pinion 30 is set to co-operate with the first spring motor 3I, so that the whole device is ready for a fresh operation.

A similar operation takes place if the number of the called station comprises less than five figures, except that the dial instead of being driven five times is driven only once, twice, three or four times, as the case may be. Return of the pinion 5'! into the initial position takes place in this case after the last of the previously wound Before operating the call press button I8, the

operator must, of course, see whether the required number has been properly set. If a mistake has been made, the operator presses the cancelling button I9 whereby the previously Wound up spring motors 3I-35 are caused to run idly under their own spring power, and the pinion 30 is again brought into engagement with the first spring motor 3|. The required number is then set again.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. It is, for instance, not necessary that the carrier 4 of the pivoted casing I should extend above the dial 2 and should enclose the dial. The carrier may, if preferred, have only a small height in which case the under side of the casing I may be provided with a downwardly extending collar which when the casing I is in the operative position, encloses the dial 2 and the coupling I2. This construction has the advantage that when the casing is tilted up as shown in Fig. l, the dial 2 is quite free on all sides and is therefore more accessible for ordinary manipulation. The new device need not necessarily be fixed to the socket 5 carrying the dial 2 or to the member 8 of the socket. If, for instance, direct fixing of the device upon the socket 5 is not possible and if the socket does not possess a stationary but only a rotatable collar, the carrier 4 of the casing I may be fixed to the cover of the box containing the automatic apparatus by the aid of suitable fixing means, for instance, a collar or fiange. When constructing and installing new automatic telephone apparatus, the device forming the subject of the invention may be fixedly mounted in the apparatus and form part thereof. Moreover, the new device may be mounted in a casing entirely separate from the ordinary automatic apparatus, and the casing may be placed near the automatic apparatus upon a table or may be fixed or mounted upon a wall. In that case, the drive of the dial 2 of the ordinary apparatus might be effected from the shaft 59 provided with a coupling M, by the aid of a flexible shaft which carries upon its free end a pinion adapted to engage a toothed rim fixed to the dial 2, for instance, by clamping. The end of the flexible shaft carrying the driving pinion may then run in a small bearing fixed to the known stationary stop arm of the selector socket 5. The number of the bands 2|, 22 and so on and the spring motors 3|, 32 and so on, may, of course, be increased or reduced according to requirements. This depends upon the number of stations to be served and also on the particular system of identification of stations, which may necessitate the employment of additional particulars. Instead of endless bands 2|, 22 etc. carrying the figures, ordinary, that is not endless bands might be used to display the selected figures under window ID of the casing I. In that case the bands should consist of flexible but comparatively stiff material, for instance, celluloid strips, so that they may be moved forwards and backwards by the aid of tension members 29.

I claim:

1. A device for facilitating correct dialling of automatic telephone apparatus comprising in combination: means for selecting at will and visibly indicating particulars of a proposed call; means for automatically driving the dial of an automatic telephone apparatus in accordance with the selected set of particulars, controlled by said first mentioned means; and a casing enclosing the complete device and provided with means for fixing said casing to the neck portion of the socket of an existing automatic telephone apparatus.

2. A device for facilitating correct dialling of automatic telephone apparatus, comprising in combination: means for selecting at will and visibly indicating particulars of a proposed call; means for automatically driving the dial of an automatic telephone apparatus in accordance with the selected set of particulars, controlled by said first mentioned means; a casing enclosing the complete device; a carrier for said casing adapted to be fixed to an existing telephone apparatus below the dial of such apparatus, said casing being hinged to said carrier to enable the whole device to be moved into and out of the operative position.

3. A device for facilitating correct dialling of automatic telephone apparatus, comprising in combination: a plurality of means for visibly indicating particulars of a selected call; a plurality of power storage means associated with said indicating means; a manually operable means for setting said indicating means and simultaneously winding up said power storage means by amounts corresponding to the movements imparted to said indicating means; means for successively coupling one after the other said power storage means with the dial for operating the latter; and means for uncoupling said power storage means from the dial after each manipulation.

4. A device for facilitating correct dialling of automatic telephone, apparatus, comprising in combination: a plurality of spring motors; a plurality of means for visibly indicating particulars of a selected call associated with said spring motors; a manually operable device for operating said spring motors and associated indicating means; means for coupling said manually operable means successively with each of the plurality of spring motors and associated indicating devices; means for automatically returning said manually operable means to its initial position after each operation; means for transmitting the return movement of each spring motor under its own power to the dial of an automatic telephone apparatus; means for successively coupling each spring motor with the means for transmitting their movement to the dial; and means for causing all the spring motors and associated indicating means to return to their initial position under the power of the spring motors, without driving the dial for the purpose of cancelling an incorrectly set number of particulars.

5. A device for facilitating correct dialling of automatic telephone apparatus, comprising in combination: a plurality of power storage means; means for visibly indicating particulars of a selected call associated with said power storage means; a manually operable means comprising a driving chain provided with finger rests and associated with an indicating scale, for winding up said power storage means and setting simultaneously said means for indicating particulars of a selected call; means for automatically returning to its initial position said manually operabie means after each operation; means for locking said power storage means after each setting operation; means for transmitting the return movement of said power storage means to the dial; means for successively coupling said power storage means with said dial, to drive the dial a number of times in accordance with the selected set of particulars; means for starting the operation of the device upon the dial, by releasing the first of said power storage means; and means for independently re-setting the indieating and the storage power means to their initial position without actuating the dial for the purpose of cancelling a wrongly selected call.

6. A device for facilitating correct dialling of automatic telephone apparatus, comprising in combination: a plurality of spring motors mounted upon a common shaft; a plurality of adjustable indicator means for indicating particulars of a selected call, each spring motor being associated with a corresponding indicator means; a manually operable means for operating an indicator means for the purpose of displaying one particular of a call and simultaneously winding up the associated spring motor by a corresponding amount; means for successively coupling said manually operable means with each of the spring motors; a driving member operatively connected with the dial of the automatic telephone apparatus; means for successively coupling said driving member with each of the spring motors; and means for uncoupling said driving member from said spring motors after the operation of a dial;

means for locking said spring motors in the wound up condition; and means for unlocking said spring motors successively to enable them to drive successively one after the other the dial; and means for unlocking simultaneously all the spring motors to enable them to return to their initial positions and return simultaneously the indicator means to their initial positions, prior to coupling said spring motors to the driving member operating the dial, for the purpose of cancelling an incorrectly set call; a second manually operable control member for controlling the operation of the means for coupling the spring motors with the driving member of the dial; and a third manually operable means for controlling the means for unlocking simultaneously the spring motors for the purpose of cancelling a wrongly set call.

'7. In a device of the kind described for facilitating the correct dialling of automatic telephone apparatus, the sub-combination of t a plurality of spring motors mounted upon a common shaft; a plurality of indicators each associated with a corresponding spring motor; a manually operable means for operating said spring motors and asso ciated indicators; means for successively coupling said manually operable means with said spring motors, said means comprising toothed rims provided upon said spring motors; a toothed pinion slidable parallel to said toothed rims and associated with a nut; a screw spindle associated with said nut; and means for turning said screw spindle to feed said pinion from one spring motor to the following spring motor, operable during the return movement of said manually operable means; means for transmitting the movement of said manually operable means to said spring motors to wind up said spring motors; and a one-way coupling arranged in said movement transmitting means to enable said manually operable means to return into its initial position without moving said spring motors.

8. In a device of the kind described for facilitating correct dialling of automatic telephone apparatus, the sub-combination of: a plurality of spring motors mounted side by side and independently rotatable upon a common shaft, said spring motors having toothed rims; a plurality of indicator means associated each with a corresponding spring motor; a manually operable means for winding up said motors; means for successively coupling said manually operable means with each of said spring motors, said means comprising a rotatable pinion and a nut and screw means for feeding said pinion to engage successively each of said spring motors, said pinion being at the commencement of the operation in engagement with the first spring motor; and means for moving said pinion into a position anterior to the first spring motor before the release of the said spring motors to turn the dial, said means comprising a manually operable member, and means operable by said calling button for turning said screw spindle in the opposite direction.

9. In a device of the kind described for facilitating correct dialling of automatic telephone apparatus, the sub-combination of: a plurality of spring motors mounted side by side and independently rotatable upon a common shaft and provided with toothed rims; a plurality of indicators associated with said spring motors; and means for successively coupling said spring motors with the dial of the automatic telephone apparatus, said coupling means comprising: a rotatable pinion adapted to co-operate with the toothed rims of said spring motors, and means for feeding said pinion into successive engagement with each of said toothed rims, said pinion being normally placed anterior to the first spring motor.

10. In a device of the kind described for facilitating correct dialling of automatic telephone apparatus, the sub-combination of a plurality of spring motors provided with toothed rims arranged side by side and independently rotatable upon a common shaft; a plurality of indicators associated with said spring motors; a manually operable means for successively winding up each of said spring motors and simultaneously setting the associated indicator; a separate spring motor adapted to be wound up upon each operation of said manually operable means; a longitudinally slidable pinion adapted to engage in succession each of said spring motors to couple same with said manually operable means, said pinion being at the commencement of the operation engaged with the first spring motor; a second longitudinally movable pinion adapted to engage successively said spring motors and transmit their driving movement to the unwinding of the springs, to the dial of the automatic telephone apparatus, said second pinion being at the commencement of the operation located anterior to the first spring motor and not in engagement therewith; means for feeding said second pinion operated by said separate spring motor; a calling button; a cancelling button; means operable by said calling button for moving said first pinion from its extreme position in which it engaged the last spring motor into a position anterior to the first spring motor; and means operable by said calling button for moving said second pinion into engagement with said first spring motor; and means operable by said cancelling button for releasing simultaneously all the spring motors with the exception of the separate spring motor to cause them to return to their initial position without affecting the dial.

11. In a device of the kind described for facilitating correct dialling of automatic telephone apparatus, the sub-combination of a plurality of spring motors provided with toothed rims and mounted side by side and independently rotatable upon a common shaft; a plurality of indicators associated with said spring motors; means for successively coupling said spring motors with the dial of the automatic telephone apparatus; said coupling means comprising: a rotatably and longitudinally movable driving pinion adapted to co-operate with the toothed rims of said spring motors, a separate spring motor for feeding said pinion into engagement with each of said toothed rims and for returning said feeding pinion into its initial position; and a reversing gear interposed between said driving pinion and said spring motor; and means for automatically reversing said reversing gear at the end of the forward feed of the driving pinion.

12. In a device of the kind described for facilitating correct dialling of automatic telephone apparatus, the subcombination of: a plurality of spring motors provided with toothed rims and mounted side by side and independently rotatable upon a common shaft; a plurality of indicators associated with said spring motors; means for successively coupling said spring motors with the dial of the automatic telephone apparatus; said coupling means comprising: a rotatably and longitudinally movable driving pinion adapted to cooperate with the toothed rims of said spring motors, a separate spring motor for feeding said pinion into engagement with each of said toothed rims and for returning said feeding pinion into its initial position; and a reversing gear interposed between said driving pinion and said spring motor; and means for automatically reversing said reversing gear at the end of the forward feed of the driving pinion, said means for reversing said reversing gear comprising: firstly a push rod operated by the last wound up spring motor; secondly a stationary stop coming into action at the end of the advance feed of the driving pinion; thirdly a second stationary stop provided at the other end of the travel of the driving pinion.

13. In a device of the kind described for facilitating correct dialling of automatic telephone apparatus, the sub-combination of: a casing containing the complete apparatus; a disc rotatably mounted upon the under side of said casing coaxially with the dial of the automatic telephone apparatus, said disc serving for driving the dial and engaging by means of a coupling pin the last hole of the dial, said casing being adapted to be mounted above the dial of the automatic telephone apparatus.

14. In a device of the kind described for facilitating correct dialling of automatic telephone apparatus, the sub-combination of: a dial; a plurality of spring motors mounted upon a common shaft; a plurality of indicators bearing call particulars, each of the indicators being associated with a corresponding spring motor; one common manually operable means for operating in succession all said spring motors and associated indicators, one indicator and one corresponding motor at the same time; a driving connection between said spring motor and said dial; said indicators comprising endless bands bearing call particulars; and a driving connection between said indicators and said motors comprising flexible tension members passed around the spring motors, the ends of said member being crossed and fixed to said endless indicator bands.

15. A device for facilitating correct dialling of automatic telephone apparatus comprising in combination: a mechanical driving motor; manually operable means for first selecting at will and visibly indicating as a whole and in proper alignment all the particulars of a proposed call and simultaneously winding up said mechanical driving motor; and means for subsequently automatically driving the dial of an automatic telephone apparatus in accordance with the selected set of particulars, controlled by said first-mentioned means and driven by said motor.

16. A device for facilitating correct dialling of an automatic telephone apparatus comprising in combination: a mechanical driving motor; manually operable means for first selecting at will and visibly indicating as a whole and in proper alignment all the particulars of a proposed call and simultaneously winding up said motor; means for subsequently automatically driving the dial of an automatic telephone apparatus in accordance with the selected set of particulars, controlled by said first-mentioned means and driven by said motor; and means for automatically returning said first-mentioned means to their initial position.

1'7. A device for facilitating correct dialling of an automatic telephone apparatus comprising in combination: a mechanical driving motor; manually operable means for first selecting at will and visibly indicating as a whole and in proper alignment all the particulars of a proposed call and simultaneously winding up said motor; means for subsequently automatically driving the dial of an automatic telephone apparatus in accordance with the selected set of particulars, controlled by the first-mentioned means and driven by said motor; and means for automatically returning the means for selecting and visibly indicating the particulars of the call and the means for driving the dials to their initial positions after the completion of the dialling operation.

18. A device for facilitating correct dialling of an automatic telephone apparatus, comprising in combination: a mechanical driving motor; manually operable means for first selecting at will and visibly indicating as a whole and in proper alignment all the particulars of a proposed call and simultaneously winding up said motor; means for subsequently automatically driving the dial of an automatic telephone apparatus in accordance with the selected set of particulars, controlled by said first-mentioned means and driven by said motor; and separate independently operable means for returning to their initial positions the means for selecting and visibly indicating particulars of a call for the purpose of cancelling an incorrectly set set of particulars.

CARL JOSEF HILGERS. 

